Clinton and Sanders were neck and neck in the first-in-the-nation contest and headed to New Hampshire ahead of next Tuesday's election there and the long primary season.

With all but one precinct reporting, Cruz, the first one to join the race, was the strong winner Monday. He earned 27.7% of the vote, with 51,649 Iowans backing his candidacy.

Basements and classrooms across the state busted at the seams due to strong turnout, which surpassed the record set in 2012. A big turnout was supposed to benefit Donald Trump, whose boisterous rallies drew many campaign newcomers, but the real estate mogul came in second, with 24.3% or 45,416 votes.

David Lauter and Chris Megerian point out that Sanders' emphasis on income inequality has particularly thrilled liberals. In an entrance poll, he led by about 2 to 1 among those caucus voters who said that was the most important issue to them. Sanders also led heavily among voters who identified themselves as "very liberal," among those younger than 45 and those who, like him, identified themselves as independents.

By contrast, Clinton won that poll among self-identified Democrats, as well as voters who identified themselves as "somewhat liberal" or "moderate" and those 45 and older. She also won among those who said their top concern was healthcare or the economy.

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Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley suspended his campaign after failing to get 15% of any precinct caucus, and earned plaudits from both Clinton and Sanders for running an issue-based campaign.

Bierman also points out that Iowa's results showed why money has not, at least so far, bought political happiness. He writes:

Bush led all candidates in television ad spending in Iowa, with nearly $15 million, according to an analysis last week from SMG Delta, as reported by NBC News. All of that money came from Right to Rise, the juggernaut super PAC supporting his presidential bid. His vote in Iowa? 3%. Cruz and his super PAC spent less than half as much ($6 million). That was good enough for the win. Trump, the reality star and business mogul, spent even less, $3.3 million, and took second place.

Searles went for Cruz, telling me as he headed to his caucus site, "I started reading more about Rubio and I didn't like what I found." Mostly that was the Florida senator's plans on taxes. "I ask myself who will stick to their word. My gut tells me Cruz."

— Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcettiraised about $7,300 toward his reelection campaign during the second half of 2015, bringing his campaign war chest to more than $2.23 million, according to a report his campaign was filing with city officials Monday. The amount shows a dramatic slowdown in contributions from the first six months of the year, when Garcetti raised over $2.2 million — a record-setting sum for the first stretch of a mayoral re-election campaign.